Scammers are copying the Kelowna RCMP's real phone number so calls look genuine. Their goal is your passwords and banking details, which can cost you money.
Scammers are calling people while pretending to be police, and the number on the screen really does belong to the Kelowna RCMP. They copy the detachment's real phone number so caller ID looks genuine. Then they try to get you to hand over passwords and banking details over the phone.
The trick is called spoofing. It means a caller makes any number they like appear on your screen. Here, the number is a real police line, so the call looks trustworthy at first glance. Police in Kelowna, British Columbia, are the ones whose number is being copied. The scammers want logins and bank information they can use to get into your accounts.
The detachment is in Kelowna, but the trick can be used on anyone. Canadians who get phone calls are the main target. That includes bank customers and anyone who uses online banking or email accounts. Giving out a password or a bank detail can cost you money.
Many people trust caller ID. This scam relies on that habit. A real police number on your screen is not proof the call is from police. A caller who is truly from the police would not need your passwords to do their job.
The alert box above lists the steps. In short, hang up, look up the police number yourself, and call your bank right away if you already shared anything.
The material does not say how many people have been called, how much money has been lost, or what the scammers say on the calls. It also does not say whether other police numbers are being copied. Those details have not been made clear.
A real police number on your screen proves nothing, so never give passwords or banking details to a caller, and call back using a number you find yourself.
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